Cookies on the Arsenal WebsiteWe use cookies to improve your browsing experience and help us improve our websites. We and carefully selected third parties use cookies to show you more relevant ads online. For more information, please click here. By continuing to use our website, you agree to our use of such cookies.

'He is following Wenger's recruitment drive'

By Chris Harris

Not long ago Arsenal v Bolton looked for all the world like
a competitive yet academic end-of-season-fixture. Not any
more. Arsenal, for so long seemingly entrenched in the
Premiership's top four, are just two points ahead of their
next opponents in the race for a Champions League place.

A game in hand gives the Gunners slightly more breathing
space but defeat at Emirates Stadium on Saturday would set alarm
bells ringing. And as everyone knows, Bolton are more than capable
of making life difficult for Arsène Wenger's side.
After a poor run of results at the start of the year, Sam
Allardyce's team have found their form in the nick of
time.

We asked Gordon Sharrock of the Bolton Evening News for a
Bolton perspective ahead of this weekend's big game. Read on to
find out who has made Wanderers tick this season, why Allardyce has
more in common with Wenger than most people realise, and why he
never tires of watching Arsenal in action.

THE STORY SO FAR
"You just have to look at the table to see that it has been a
successful season. Bolton are fifth going into this game and that
in itself speaks volumes. At the turn of the year we sensed that
this could be a side with genuine Champions League potential. A lot
of people were grudgingly making that point but inside the club the
belief had been there for a while. Bolton were in the top four on
merit. Unfortunately they have a habit of following a fantastic run
with an equally dramatic slump. They took eight points from a
possible 27 at the start of the year and found themselves going
into the game against Sheffield United two weeks ago under so much
pressure just to stay in with a chance of a European place. Then
Bolton got a good result against Sheffield United, with an improved
performance, they won at Wigan, who have been a bogey side for
them, and drew with Everton. That's seven points from nine and
suddenly, with Arsenal having problems, they are only two points
off the Champions League places. It looks as if they have found
their form at the right time but there is still work to do to get
into the Uefa Cup."

MAN OF THE MOMENT
"There are a few contenders for Bolton's player of the
season award. El-Hadji Diouf, the player all opposing fans love to
hate, has had a super season. He hasn't been scoring many goals
but he always gives you a high-tempo, menacing performances, and
his assists record is impressive. Kevin Davies is another important
players. He was missing for half-a-dozen games after cracking a
bone in his foot in the FA Cup tie at Emirates Stadium. They were
games Bolton needed him in because he makes them stronger, he is
central to everything they do and makes a big difference. Then
you've got the keeper, Jussi Jaaskelainen. He's the longest
serving player at the club and is arguably the most consistent
keeper in the Premiership."

THE BOY MOST LIKELY TO
"One of the points Sam Allardyce made in his press conference
on Thursday was that he is following Arsène Wenger's
recruitment policy. In other words he is looking abroad at young
players. Bolton have set up an international academy with links to
a variety of different clubs in different countries - Australia,
China and India for example. Sam has spread his net wider than ever
before because he knows that he can't get players of the
calibre of N'Gotty, Okocha, Djorkaeff and Stelios on free
transfers now, you have to pay big money now. Sam has had to go
abroad and look at quality youngsters and he reckons that about 35
to 40 per cent of his youth squad is foreign talent. He has signed
a couple of pre-contract players from abroad who might emerge in
the years to come. Firstly the Swiss midfielder Blerim Dzemaili,
he's the captain of FC Zurich and is already a full
international at the age of 20. He is in the same mould as Gary
Speed. Then there is Gerald Cid, a centre half from Bordeaux.
He's 23, a former French Under-19 international. These are the
kind of players Sam is trying to bring through. He's trying to
bring the average age of the squad down."

TALKING TACTICS
"Bolton have no injuries and Kevin Nolan is back from
suspension. Adranik scored twice against Wigan, he did less well
against Everton, but Sam told me that he is likely to make way for
Nolan because he'll be fresh and he's the captain. Nolan
has scored on his last two trips to Arsenal as well. Generally
speaking, Sam believes he has found a way of playing Arsenal, of
combating their strengths while exploiting their weaknesses. Bolton
have been a real thorn in Arsène's side for six seasons
now. However, Sam is taking all the pressure off his own players,
saying they are not expecting to win."

IMPRESSIONS OF ARSENAL
"As Sam said in his press conference, Arsenal are a great side
and it's only because they are short of Henry and Van Persie
that they lack a cutting edge at the moment. They have no one to
finish off their magnificent approach play. Sam is full of
admiration for Arsenal and the way they play. I never tire of
watching them and they played really well at the Reebok in the FA
Cup in February. Bolton just had to try and live with them and as
it happens they did. In fact in extra time they had a chance to
score first and if they had it might have been difficult for
Arsenal. But the game summed up the problems Arsenal have had. They
could have been out of sight in the first half but only scored
once. When they play at their best though, in terms of creativity
and finishing, teams like Bolton struggle to live with
them."

Please ensure you enter the correct Date of Birth as it will be required if you need to reset your password

Please ensure that you enter your parents email address and click here to review our privacy policy for those who are under 13. Please note that an email address can only be used once to register as a Digital Member so you cannot register for both an adult and junior membership under the same email address.

Mobile Number

* Country

* State

Language Preference

* Postcode

* Email Address

* Confirm Email Address

* Password

* Confirm Password

Get all the news from Arsenal.com

Weekly E-Newsletter (only in English)I would like to receive the weekly e-newsletter which includes match reviews and offers from The Arsenal Football Club plc and its commercial partners.

Club Information and Offers (only in English)I would like to receive information and offers relating to The Arsenal Football Club plc.

Offers and Information about Commercial Partners (only in English)I would like to receive information and offers relating to The Arsenal Football Club plc's commercial partners.For further details, see our Privacy Policy or write to us at Data Protection Officer, The Arsenal Football Club PLC, 75 Drayton Park, London N5 1BU